Compare towns
Lee vs Wells vs Brentwood
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Lee has the most people working from home (27.6%).
Wells has grown the fastest since 2010 (+18%).
Brentwood has the highest household income ($166k).
What matters to you?
Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.
| Measure | Lee | Wells | Brentwood |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,576Lowest |
11,713Highest |
4,641 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+18%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.9±1.9Lowest 10% above U.S. |
53.6±3.8Highest 38% above U.S. |
43.8±3.1 13% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 21.9%±5.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
18%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.4%±4.1 U.S.: 22% |
| Lee and Brentwood are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 22.6%±6.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
31%±3.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.8%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Wells and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 50.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
43.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
49% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Lee and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $131,579±$54k 63% above U.S. |
$88,024±$11kLowest 9% above U.S. |
$165,509±$23kHighest 105% above U.S. |
| Brentwood and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $480,600±$61kLowest 44% above U.S. |
$485,300±$23k 46% above U.S. |
$528,100±$75kHighest 59% above U.S. |
| Brentwood and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,350±$297Lowest 4% below U.S. |
$2,217±$654Highest 57% above U.S. |
| Brentwood and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,661 210% above U.S. |
$3,215Lowest 3% above U.S. |
$9,713Highest 211% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.3%±53.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
42.1%±19.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
63.9%±37.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Brentwood and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 2.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
90.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
96%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987Lowest 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1989 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
1995Highest 15 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 4% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 4% above U.S. |
28 minHighest 5% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 27.6%±8.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.8%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
23.1%±8.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Lee and Brentwood are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #3 of 120 in NH | #22 of 133 in ME | #16 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Oyster River Coop School District | Wells-Ogunquit CSD | Brentwood School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Wells High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.4 |
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| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 10 photos → | None yet | 6 photos → |
U.S. average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.